held up, brief effort 14th, soon beaten
held up, headway, prominent, 16th, outpaced 3 out
close up, lost place 13th, soon struggling
led to 4 out, weakened next
in touch, went 2nd before 13th, led approaching 4 out, stayed on well
held up in touch, smooth headway 14th, effort went 2nd approaching 3 out, kept on same pace
close up, lost place when not fluent 13th, soon no chance
Bang And Blame continues to impress with his attitude and is taken to repel the likes of Kitski, Jungle Jinks and Bellaney Jewel. If there is one thing that is not lacking in Bang And Blame's make-up it is stamina, and Mick Easterby's 11-year-old has been very profitable to follow in events like this, having won six of his last 12 starts. Strictly on the form-book, he has it to do with Bellaney Jewel, being over a stone worse off with that rival for the five-lengths that separated them at Catterick in December, but a follow-up at the same track showed that he remains in good heart. He was pulled up earlier in the race won by Jungle Jinks at Wetherby, but the latter always goes well there. The selection has bounced back since, and should make a bold bid to gallop his rivals into the ground. Kitski has been pretty consistent, but will do well to hump topweight to victory in this ground, and with regular pilot Mike McAllister to guide him round, Bang And Blame is the one to be on.
Kitski (FR) 7-1 (9-10) Held up in touch, mistake 10th, progress on inner 6 out, 4th approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 16, 11l behind Homer Wells (10-2) at Gowran Park 3m hcp chs hvy in Jan.
Mr Woodentop (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) In rear, headway to lead 14th, headed after 4 out, soon outpaced, 4th of 9, 10l behind Victory Gunner (10-7) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Jungle Jinks (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Raced wide, led to 7th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up 5 out in race won by Ebony Light (11-2) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Bang And Blame (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) With leaders, led 5th, headed 2 out, rallied to lead towards finish, all out, won at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan beating Classic Capers (11-9) by a shd, 14 ran.
See You There (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Tracked leader to 8th, outpaced 5 out, soon beaten and pulled up at the 15th in race won by Numero Un de Solzen (11-1) at Newcastle 3m nov chs (3) sft in Jan, 5 ran.
Bellaney Jewel (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) In touch when unseated rider at the 12th in race won by Bang And Blame (10-6) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 14 ran.
Supreme Breeze (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, lost place and reminders after 8th, soon outpaced, 6th of 7, 30l behind Master Sebastian (11-12) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.